Assessing Student Progress
At the classroom level assessment methods in all grades include a variety of strategies-observation, self and peer evaluation, projects, portfolios, presentations, classroom tests.
Provincial testing is one way we assess our students. The EQAO (Education Quality Accountability Office) provincial assessments in Reading, Writing and Mathematics for all students in grades 3 and 6 were conducted in May 2011. Results were sent to the school in the fall. Students were assigned a score between Level 1 (the lowest) and Level 4 (the highest). Students performing at Levels 3 and 4 are meeting provincial expectations.
Achievement reports are presented in two ways:
Method 1 - In Method 1 all data are reported. Method 1 expresses the number of students achieving at each level as a percentage of all of the students in the grade, including students who were exempted and those who took part in the assessment but did not produce enough work to be scored. Method 1 is EQAO's primary method of reporting because publicly funded schools are accountable for the achievement and progress of all students. School and school boards are required to use this method to ensure consistency of reporting across the province.
Method 2 - Method 2 is an alternative way of presenting data. Method 2 expresses the distribution of student results as a percentage of those students who actually took part in the assessment and produced work that could be scored. Students who were exempt, or for whom we have no performance data, are excluded. Method 2 highlights the results achieved by students who have scorable work.
Plans for the Future
Our school Action Plan continues to address three directions for movement.
Parental Involvement
- encourage more parental involvement with each child's education both at school and at home
- continued use of agendas, newsletters, Web site, Games Night, etc. as tools for communicating with parents
- increase our information to parents about curriculum expectations at all grade levels.
Staff Development
- encourage staff involvement in available workshops, meetings, field testing, exemplar work
- develop a repertoire of assessment strategies for all grade levels
- share areas of expertise both in the school and on Board committees.
Literacy
- continue to promote literacy and numeracy at all grade level